Device for use in blowing smoke rings



Dec. 20, 1932. M. s. BANKS 1,891,466

DEVICE FOR USE IN BLOWING SMOKE RINGS Filed Nov. 24, 1951 Patented Dec. 20, 1932 V I l UNITED STATES'VPIAFTENT OFFICE I Application filed November 24, 1 931. Serial No. 577,067.

This invention relates to improvements in n Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodidevices for use in blowing smoke rings. I ment of my improved device for use in blow- Devices of this kind have been provided ing smoke rings, showing the same in'condicomprising a tubular member having therein tion for use. n r Y means of one sort or another forming an ob- Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the device struction extending inwardly from the wall collapsed. 1 of the member so as to provide a restricted Fig. 3is a fragmentary longitudinal-section, central opening through which the smoke on an'enlarged scale of a portion of the colpasses when blown into the device. Such de lapsed device. a

vices, however, have only been partially suc- Fig. at is a similar view of the same por- 760 cessful. tion of the devicetaken on line 44 of Fig. 3. An object of the present invention is to Figs. 5 and 6 are corresponding figures of provide an improved device of this kind in the device when expanded, taken on lines which the middle portion of the tubular mem- 55 and 6-6 respectively of Fig. 7 her is obstructed in a manner to cause the I Fig. 7 isa transverse section of the device 5 smoke blown into the device to be intercepted on line 7 7, Fig 6, in condition for use. and guided or diverted to and against the in- Fig. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal secner wall thereof so that it can travel along tion thereof, approximately on the line 88 the wall, and, by the resulting frictional enof Fig. 7. I r gagement be caused to remain more'or less in Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the baffle-or contact therewith in its passage through the smoke diverting element of the device, dedevice, and leave the device in the form of tachedrings; also to provide a device of this charac- In the illustrated embodiment of my inventer which is simple and efficient in use and tion, my improved device for use in blowing with which smoke rings may be readily smoke rings comprises an elongate tubular 375 formed with the minimum practice and mouth memberlO of cylindrical or other cross seccontrol. tion having a smoke inlet end 11 and a dis- In devices of this kind heretofore provided, charge en'd 12. If desired, the inlet end 11 the tubular member has been rigidly conmay be formed as shown in Figs. 1 and 5 so as structed and was intended to permanently reto more readily fit the lips of the user. tainits form, so that such devices were rela- In accordance with this invention, there is tively bulky and inconvenient to pack and arranged within the tubular member 10, a transport with resulting increase in cost to bafi'le'or element which is constructed so as to the purchaser. obstruct the middle portion of the member A further object of the invention is to prowhile permitting the smoke to pass said ele-' vide a device of this character which, while ment next to the inner surface 14 of saidtube. being practical and efiicient in use, is readily Said baflle or element is also preferably concollapsible into a substantially fiat object so structed so as to provide a tapered or wedgethat it may be cheaplymanufactured and can like surface directed towards the mouth or be inserted in an ordinary envelope and inlet end 11 of the device to thereby divert and mailed as an advertising device or novelty, guide the smoke gradually towards the wall or can be inserted into a package of cigars or of the member 10 in amanner toprevent back cigarettes without a material increase in the currents or eddying of the smoke in such 45 size or weight thereof. movement, and to concentrate the smoke Various other objects and advantages will against said wall. 1 Any suitable means may be apparent from the following description be provided" for this purpose. of an embodiment of the invention, and the For example, in'the embodiment of the innovel features thereof will be particularly vention illustrated, there is shown abaflie or 50 pointed out in connection with the claims apelement having two oppositely inclined or pended. bevelled faces or parts 21 whlch termmate or meet to form an edge 22 approximately in an axial plane of the tubular member 10 so as to form a wedge-like or tapered obstruction preferably facing toward the mouth or inlet end 11. The bafiie is preferably ar ranged near said inlet end 11. The bafile may face in the opposite direction if desired.

The faces 21 of the baffle 20 may be of substantially triangular shape havingv the edge 22 as a common base and their side edges 24 extending rearwardly and disposed in spaced relation to the inner wall 14: of the tubular member 10. i There is thus provided a series of spaces or openings 25 between said baffle 20 and said inner wall 1 1.

In the illustrated construction, the edge 22 of the baffle or element 20 is preferably of a length substantially equal to, or only slightly less than, the inside diameter of the tubular member 10, and thetwo edges 24 of each of the faces 21 thereof terminate at their rear ends in small tabs or attaching portions 26 by which the baflle 20 may be permanently attached to the innerwall 14: of the member 10. The vbafiie orelement 20 may be otherwise constructed to provide the tapered form and the marginal spaces for affording passage of the smoke next to the walls of the member 10, and the element 20 may be secured or supported in the member 10 in any other suitable manner.

In the use of the device, the end ll'is placed in the mouth against the lips of the user and smoke is blown lengthwise through and out of themember '10. As the smoke impinges upon the baffle 20, it is guided or diverted by the tapered faces 21 thereof into substantially o wedge-shaped formations as the smokemoves towards the openings 25, where the smoke is concentrated against the annular inner wvall H. As a consequence, all of the smoke passes through the openings 25 in a condensed form and continues toward the outlet end 12 in a substantially cylindrical formation. Since the particles of smoke nearest to the inner surface of the tubular member tend to flow more slowly because of surface friction, it will be obvious that if smoke is blown into the device inpuffs, rings will be formed as the smoke leaves the end 12 vof the tubular member. By causing the smoke to follow the wall of the tubular member by means of the baffle, the formation of such rings is facilitated. Such result will be readily obtained by slight practice and the minimum of mouth control.

The device for use in emitting smoke rings as herein described may be formed of any suitable material, but is preferably made of some durable and inexpensive flexible material such as stout, tough paper or material of similar character which, in addition to its low cost, will permit the device to be collapsed.

In order tovpermit the device to be, collapsed, the tubular member 10 is provided with longitudinal creases 30 or other analogous formations at diametrically opposite sides thereof, and the baffle 20 is likewise formed of a portion of similar material bent .to the shape shown, for example, in Figs. 5 and 9, the edge 22 being formed by a crease or fold which extends in the plane of the creases 3-0 of the tubular member 10. The baflie 20 is also provided with creases, folds or other'hinge-likeformations 31 between the portions forming the faces 21 and'the tabs or attaching members 26. It will be readily seen thatthe device can be collapsed into a substantially flat object or member, by exerting a slight pressure thereagainst in a direction substantially perpendicular to; a plane the tubular member 10 will take the form shown in Figs. 2 1 and the baffle 20 therein will collapse at the same time along. the edge 22 and the edges 31 so as to fold fiat within the memberlO between the opposed, flattened halves thereof.

To place the device in condition for use, it is only necessary to exert a slight pressure upon the tubular member 10 in the region of the creases 3O whereupon it and the baffle 20 therein will assume an expanded condition ready for use, and can be retamed 1n th1s .form as long as th1s sllght pressure 1s maintained. v

l Vhen released, the natural elasticity. or

springihess of the material will, due to the creases 30, cause the device to partially collapse, so that if inserted into an envelope or a package, or is placed in a pocket, the complete collapse of the device is readily effected.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for use in blowing smoke rings comprising a tubular member through which the smoke is blown lengthwise, and a transverse bafiie composed 'of 'a single part arranged therein and which is immovable in use relatively to said tubular member and which forms an obstruction in the middle portion of said member and permits the passage of smoke past said obstruction only adjacentthe wall of said member.

2. A device for use in blowing smoke rings comprising a tubular member through which the smoke is blown lengthwise, and a transverse bafiie arranged therein which obstructs the middle portion of said member and, has a relatively small attaching portion by which it is secured to the wall of said member so as to provide an opening next to said wall for the escape of smoke past said baffle.

3. A device for use in blowing smoke-rings 7 tending to the wall of said member to maintain said baflle in relatively stationary rela tion to said tubular member and to provide openings between said wall and said middle portion of said baflle for the escape of smoke past the latter.

4. A device for use in blowing smoke rings comprising a tubular member through which the smoke is blown and which is collapsible lengthwise so as to be substantially flat, and a baffle within the same which obstructs the middle portion of said member when the latter is expanded and which is collapsible with said member. 7

5. A device for use'in blowing smoke rings comprising a tubular member through which the smoke is blown, and which is formed of flexible material and is creased lengthwise at opposite sides so as to be capable of collapsing flatwise, and a transverse bafile within the same which is also formed of flexible material and obstructs the middle portion thereof when the same is expanded, and said baflie being creased so as to fold substantially flat with and by the collapse of said member.

I 6. A device for use in blowing smoke rings, comprising a tubular member through which the smoke is blown from one end to the other, and a baffle including a part spaced from the wall of said member to obstruct the middle portion thereof, said part of said baflie being tapered towards the inlet end of said member to deflect the smoke in wedge-like formation towards the space between said baifle and the wall of said member, whereby substantially all of the smoke will pass said baflie close to the wall of said tubular member.-

7 A device for use in blowing smoke rings, comprising a tubular member through which the smoke is blown from one end to the other and which is formed of flexible material and is provided with longitudinal creases or the like at diametrically opposite sides to permit said member to be collapsed flatwise, and a ba-flle therein formed of flexible material folded between its ends to form a tapered obstruction in the middle of said tubular member and is spaced therefrom to provide openings next the wall of said member through which the smoke is guided by said tapered obstruction, and said baflle also having folded attaching portions for securing said baffle to the inner wall of said member, and said baflie being collapsible along said folds when said member is collapsed.

8. A device for blowing smoke rings comprising a tubular member through which the smoke is blown lengthwise, and meanstherein for obstructing the middle portion thereof and providing an opening about the same extending crosswise of said tubular member and through which opening smoke passes in a direction lengthwise of and next to the wall of said device and continues in a lengthwise direction along said wall and leaves said device in the form of rings.

9. A device for blowing smoke rings comprising a tubular member through which the smoke is blown lengthwise, and means therein for obstructing the middle portion thereof to divert smoke blown into said device towards the wall of said member, said obstruction being spaced from and forming an opening extending crosswise between said wall and said obstruction and through which opening the smoke blown into said device, including that which impinges upon and is diverted by said obstruction passes lengthwise of and next to said wall, and continues in that direction along the wall of the device and leaves the latter in the form of rings.

MILLARD S. BANKS.

i no 

